'Driving Miss Daisy' for lifesaving charity

TWO vintage car enthusiasts have set off on an 1,100-mile tour of the Welsh coast to raise money for two special causes.

Tony Phillips and Pam Hunt, of Llangwm, will drive their Vintage Austin motorcars around the coast of Wales, stopping off at every RNLI lifeboat station.

The two cars, a 1934 Austin 7 tourer, better known as Miss Daisy, and a 1935 Austin Ruby, better known as Wee Fergus, have a combined age of 159 years.

Setting off this morning (Thursday) from Little Haven RNLI station, the pair plans to complete their trip by May 30.

Tony set up the trip to raise money for the RNLI. A keen rower, he was injured in a race across the Irish Sea in 2008, when the end of an oar accidentally went up under his rib cage, damaging both his liver and kidneys.

He was rescued by crew from the Arklow Lifeboat based south of Dublin, before being taken to hospital.

“It’s my way of saying thank you to the RNLI,” said Tony.

“This is for not just saving my life, but for the work they do, often at great risk to themselves saving lives all around the coast of Britain and Ireland 24 hours a day and 365 days of the year.”

Pam is also hoping to raise £1,000 along the way to support funding for a Heritage Lottery project which will see renovation work start on Llangwm’s medieval church.

To follow Miss Daisy and Wee Fergus as they attempt their run, visit facebook.com/missdaisydiary or follow them on Twitter @missdaisydiary.